Rotary toothbrush



Jan. 3, 1950 J. L. cKQLA y 2,492,966-

` vROTARY TooTHBRUsH Filed Jan. 4, 1947 Patented Jan. 3, 1950 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY TOOTHBRUSH John L. Ckola, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application January 4, 1947, Serial No. 720,246

12 Claims. (Cl. 253-3) My invention relates broadly to fluid motors andmore specifically to fluid-operated rotary tooth brushes and the like.

An important object of my invention is the provisio-n of a structurewhich is simple, inexpensive to build, durable in use, and easy tooperate.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel means forreversing the direction of rotation of the tool-equipped rotary spindleoperated by the fluid motor.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of novel meansfor by-passing fluid to the rotary brush or tool when desired so thatthe tool `may be used either without the fluid or in conjunction withthe fluid.

The above and numerous other objects and advantages of my invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed specification, appendedclaims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like partsthroughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a vertical axial section of my novel device;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View corresponding to Fig. 1, butshowing a different arrangement of some of the parts;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken on the line 3--3of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. l; l

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 'I-'I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken the line 9-9 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the lineIll-I0 of Fig. 5.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral Iindicates an elongated casing, preferably cylindrical, containing acylindrical bore in which is mounted for limited rotation a stato-r 2.Stator 2 is provided at its opposite ends with bearing acting valveelements 3 and 4, both of which are secured fast thereto. It will beobserved that the valve element 3 is preferably, and as shown, conicalin form while the valve element 4 is in the nature of a bearing sleevewhich projects out one end of casing I,

which casing is restricted by means of an annular end-forming ring 5.Member 5 may either be formed integrally with the casing I, screwthreaded thereto, or otherwise made fast therewith. Bearing-like valveelements 3 and 4 retain the intermediate portion of stator 2 in spacedrelation to the cylindrical bore of casing I to provide therebetween anannular uid passage 6. Valve elements 3 and 4, together with the stator2, provide a chamber in which is mounted a rotor l. As shown, one end ofthe rotor 'I is provided with a stub shaft 8 while a drive shaft 9projects axially from the opposite end. As

, shown, shafts 8 and 9 may be integrally formed.

In any event, drive shaft 9 extends axially outwardly from the casing Ithrough bearing sleeve 4. The interior'wall of the stator 2 preferably,and as shown, is provided with one or more spiral vanes I0, whereas therotor I is provided with one or more spiral vanes I I which are pitchedin a direction opposite to the pitch of the spiral vanes Ill of thestator, the purpose of which will hereinafter be disclosed.

Connected axially to the end of the casing I, opposite the drive shaft9, is a fluid inlet passage I2 formed by a short tube I3. Concentricwith the tube I3 and surrounding same is an annular fluid dischargepassage I4. Fluid inlet and outlet passages I2 and I4 are connected to asuitable fluid source and drain, respectively (not shown), by means ofconcentric inlet and discharge tubes I5 and I6 respectively. It will benoted that the outlet tube I6 is secured to a ring Il which is threadedinto the end of the casing vI and is integrally formed with the tube I3'by means 'of radial partitions in the form of a spider I8. (Seeparticularly Fig. 3.) A plurality (four in number) of fluid passages I9,preferably, and as shown, extend longitudinally from the uid outletpassage I4 to the interior of the casing I; and a plurality (four) ofrelatively short iiuid passages 2l) extend from the inlet passage I2 tothe interior of the` casing I. It will be noted, particularly byreference to Fig. 4, that the interior ends of the passages I9 and 20are not only equi-distant from the center of the casing I and valveelement 3, but are also equally circumferentially spaced in the casingI, in alternative arrangement. A plurality (four) of fluid passages 2|in valveelement 3 communicate with one end of the stator 2 and are sopositioned so as to be aligned with any of the passages I9 or 20 uponrotation of the stator 2 within the casing I. Similarly, a plurality(four) of fluid passages 22 inthe valve element 3 communicate with theannular passage 6 and are adapted to be aligned with the fluid passagesI9 and 29 upon rotation of the stator within the casing. When the fluidpassages 2i in the valve element 3 are in alignment with the passages I9in the casing I, it will be seen that the passages 22 in the valveelement 3 communicate with the passages 29 of the casing i; andsimilarly, when the passages 2| in the valve element 3 are in alignmentwith the passages 29y of the casingv I, the passages 22 in the valveelement 3 will communicate with the passages i9 in the casing I.

The interior of the casing I is provided with a circumferentiallyextended segmental slot 23 (see particularly Figs. and 10) whereas theperipheral surface of the stator 2 is provided with a longitudinallyextended V-shaped slot 24. Securely anchored in the center of theV-shaped slot 24 and projecting radially therefrom into slot 23, is aresilient stop linger 25 in the form of a leaf spring. The opposite endsof the slot 23 deiine stop shoulders 26 and 21, whereas the oppositesides of the V-shaped slot 24 are indicated by the numerals 28 and 29.It will be n oted that the relationship of the segmental slot 23 and thestop finger 25 is such that when the stator 2 is rotated with respecttol the casing I to a point where the stop finger '25 rests lightlyagainst the shoulder 21, then and in that event, the passages 2l of thevalve element 3 will be aligned with the passages 20 of the casing I,and the passages V22 of the valve element 3 will be aligned with thepassages I9 of the casing. With the valve inthis position, fluid underpressure will pass through the inlet passage I2, the pas= f sages A2l]and 24 and from thence through the rotor chamber, lout of the oppositeend of the rotor chamber., through a radial passage 30 .in the -staton1into and through the annular passage 6, and out through .alignedpassages 22 and I9 to the outlet I4, from whence it will be discharged.Similarly, when the stator 2 is turned with respect to the casing I sothat the resilient stop finger rests lightly against the 'shoulder 26,the

passages 22 of the valve element -3 are aligned A with the passages 20of the casing, and pas sages 24 of the valve element 3 are aligned withpassages I9 of the casingl With the passages thus aligned, -huid under-pressure will flow inwardly through the inlet passage I2 throughaligned passages 26 and 22 into and through the annular passage -6through the radial passages 30 Yinte and through the rotor chamber 'andout through aligned passages 2| fand I9 into the fluid clischarge,passage I4. It will 'be noted that with the valve 3 positioned as inFig. 1, iiuid under pres'- sure flows downwardly through 'the 'htorchamber causing the rotor 1 to rotate clockwise with re'- spect t'o Fig.6. With the valve positioned as in Fig. 2, fluid under pressure willflow upwardly through the r'otor Vchamber and cause th'e rotor 1 torevolve in a clockwise ydirection with respect to Fig. 6.

It is important to hote that as fluid passes through the rotorcontainingstator chamber, it is deflected radially inwardly by the spiral vanes I0 of the stator and thereby caused to impinge with greater force uponthe spiral varies 'II of the rotor. This action ycontinues from one endof the stator chamber to the other and the speed of tooth brush, Iprovide a removable stem portion 3| which is provided with an axialrecess which frictionally engages the outwardly projecting end ofbearing sleeve 4. A key 32 prevents rotation of the stem 3| on thebearing sleeve 4. As here shown, drive shaft 9 terminates within thebearing sleeve 4 and is provided with an irregularly tapered end. Anextension shaft 33 within the removable stem 3I is provided at its innerend with a tapered end 34 that matches the end of the drive shaft 9.Drive shaft 9 is supported by suitable bearings 35 and 36 whereas theextension shaft 33 is supported by a suitable bearing in the stem 31adjacent the outer end thereof and by the bearing 36 in the outer end ofbearing sleeve 4. At its outer end, the extension shaft 33 is recessedto receive the stem 38 of a rotary tooth brush 39.

The brush 39 is partially contained within a segmental hood 46 which isremovably secured to the end of a stem 3| by means of a resilientlocking collar 4I and a detent 42. (See Figs. l and 8.) A radial slot 43in the casing element 5 extends from the annular passage 6 andterminates adjacent the sleeve 4 and is adapted upon rotation of thesleeve 4 to communicate with two spaced radially extending passages 44and 45, which in turn extend from the periphery of the sleeve 4 to anaxial passage 46 surrounding the drive shaft 9. Passage 46 extendsoutwardly to the bearing element 36 on the end of sleeve 4 where itcommunicates with an axial passage 41 by means of the slot 48 in thebearing 36. Said passage 46 is open to atmosphere adjacent the brush 39through a radial slot 49 in the bearing 31.

It will be noted that when the stator 2 is rotated with respect to thecasing I so as to position the resilient stop finger 25 against the ends26 or 21 that the passages 44 and 45 are circumferentially offset fromthe radial slot 43 so that no fluid passes Ithrough the passages 44 or45. When it is desired to pass fluid through the passages 4'4 and andfrom thence through the passages of the sleeve 4 and stem 38 to thebrush 39, the Ycasing I is rotated with respect 'to the stator so as tocause the resiient stop finger 25 to yield to a point where it engageslone of the sides 28 or 29 of V-'shaped slot 24 at which point thecorresponding radial passages in the sleeve 4 will become `aligned withthe radial slot 43. However, it will be noted that when either vof theradial passages 4'4 or 45 are aligned with the radial slot 43, thepassages in the valve lelement 3 are in at least partial alignment withthe passages I9 and 20 in the casing, so that fluid is passi-ng throughthe stator 'chamber under pressure to cause rotation of the rotor in thedesired direction.

My/device is so constructed 'that it may be `held and the stem 3Imanipulated to 'allow water Aor other iiuid to pass outwardlytherethrough with the use of but one of the Ioperators hands.Manipulation of the .stein 3| may be as readily accomplished t'e changethe `direction of rotation of the brush 39.

lDental authorities vare uniformly ofthe opinion that teeth should bebrushed in a directionaway from the gums and in the direction of theteeth. 'This :function is readily 'accomplished by device, vsimply, bychanging direction 'of rotation 'of the brush 39. ;It'isnot necessarytoirern'ov'e the brush 'from 'the mouth when rinsing the brush an'd theteethas 'this is y'accomplished by merely aligning Ath'e slot '43 'witheither :fof

- the radial passages or il'toallow water under pressure to passdownwardly through the stem 3| and unto the brush 39.

In use, but one fluid motor is needed for a entire household. It is butnecessary to supply each member of a household with a stem 3| and itsassociated parts 39 and 40 as a unit. Thus, each member of a family isprovided with a personal motordriven tooth brush and sanitary conditionsassociated therewith are accomplished at a high standard.

While I have shown a commercial form of my device in accordance withsection 4888 of the United States Statutes, it will be readilyunderstood that my device is capable of modification without departurefrom the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

f 1. A fluid motor including a casing, a stator coaxially mounted insaid casing for limited rotary movements in respect thereto, a rotorcoaxially journalled in said stator, a drive shaft secured to said rotorand projecting axially from one end of said casing, fluid inlet andoutlet passages on the opposite end of said casing, valve elements atopposite ends of said stator, said stator and said valve elementsdefining a chamber in which the rotor revolves, a passage in one of saidvalve elements communicating with one end of said chamber and with thefluid inlet passage in the casing upon rotary movement of the stator :j

to its limit in one direction and communicating with the same .end ofthe chamber and the fluid outlet passage in the casing upon rotarymovement of the stator to its limit in the opposite direction, and asecond passage in said valve 1 element communicating with the oppositeend of said chamber and the fiuid outlet passage in said casing uponrotary movement of the stator to its limit in one direction andcommunicating with said opposite end of the chamber and the uid inletpassage in the casing upon rotary movement of the stator to its limit inthe opposite direction.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the stator is provided witha spiral vane and the rotor is provided with a peripheral spiral vanepitched in a direction opposite to the pitch of the spiral vane of thestator.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said inlet and outletpassages in the casing are concentric one to the other.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the rotation of said statoris limited Within the casing by means comprising circumferentiallyspaced stop shoulders in one thereof and a yielding stop member in theother thereof working between said stop shoulders.

5. In a device of the class described, an elongated open-ended casinghaving a cylindrical bore, concentric fluid inlet and outlet passagesconnected to one end of said casing, a stator within said casing bore,bearing means on opposite ends of said stator mounting said stator forlimited rotary movement with respect to said casing and spacing theintermediate portion thereof from the wall of said casing bore toprovide an annular fluid passage, said bearing means and statorproviding a rotor chamber, a rotor mounted in said chamber and having adrive shaft projecting axially through the end of the casing oppositethe fluid inlet, a passage in the bearing means adjacent the fluid inletcommunicating with one end of said chamber and the fluid inlet uponrotary movement of the stator to its limit in one direction andcommunicating with the same end of the chamber and the fluid outlet uponrotary movement of the stator to its limit in the opposite direction,and a second'passage in said bearing means communicating through saidannular passage with the opposite end of the chamber and the fiuidoutlet in the casing upon rotary movement of the stator to its limit inone direction and communicating through said annular passage with saidopposite end of the chamber and the fluid inlet passage in the casingupon rotary movement of the stator to its limit in the oppositedirection, the stator bearing means in the end of the casing oppositethe fluid inlet being in the nature of a sleeve which projects outwardlythrough the casing to provide means for rotating the stator in respectto the casing, said drive shaft being journalled in and projectingoutwardly from said sleeve.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 in which the inside wall of thestator is .provided with a continuous spiral vane extending from one endthereof to the other end thereof, said rotor being provided with acontinuous peripheral spiral vane which is pitched opposite to thedirection of the pitch of the spiral vane of the stator.

7. The structure defined in claim 5 in which the rotary movements of thestator within said casing are limited by means including acircumferentially extended slot in one thereof and a yielding stop ngerin the other thereof.

8. The structure defined in claim 5 in further combination with a fluidoutlet passage in said bearing sleeve adjacent said drive shaft, and aradial passage in said bearing sleeve adapted to communicate with saidannular passage and said last-named fluid outlet passage only when thestator is rotated Within the casing to an extent to cause a yielding ofthe stop finger.

9. In a device of the class described, an elongated open-ended casinghaving a cylindrical bore, fluid inlet and outlet passages connected toone end of said casing, a stator within said casing bore, bearing-likevalve elements on opposite ends of said stator mounting said stator forlimited rotary movement with respect to said casing and spacing theintermediate portion thereof from the wall of the casing bore to providean annular fluid passage, a circumferentially extended slot in the boreof said casing, an axially extended V-shaped notch in the peripheralsurface of said stator, a resilient stop finger projecting radially fromsaid stator centrally of said V-shaped notch and adapted to engage theends of the slot in the casing, said valve elements and said statordefining a rotor chamber, a rotor mounted in said chamber and having adrive shaft projecting axially through the end of the casing oppositethe uid inlet, a passage for admitting fiuid under pressure through oneend of the chamber, a passage from the other end of said chamber for thedischarge of said fluid, the valve elements in the end of the casingopposite the uid inlet being in the nature of a bearing sleeve whichprojects outwardly through the casing to provide means for rotating thestator with respect to the casing, said drive shaft being journalled insaid sleeve, a fiuid outlet passage in said sleeve parallel to saiddrive shaft, and a pair of radial fluid passages in said sleeveextending from said outlet passage and adapted to communicate with theannular passage intermediate the casing and stator upon extrememovements of said resilient amanece 7 stop finger. in thecircumferentially .extended is1ot in the casing.

. 10. The structure defined in claim 9 in further :combination with aremovable stem secured to .said sleeve axially of saidcasing, anextension shaft journalled in said stem for operative vengagement withsaid `drive shaft, and a tool mounted on the end of vsaid extensionshaft for rrotation therewith.

11. A uid motor including a casing; a stator -coaxially mounted in saidcasing for klimited frotary `nfiovementsgin respect thereto, a -.rotorcoaxially journalledin said-stator, a drive shaft secured to said rotorVand projecting axially from :one Vendv of said casing, fluid inletv andoutlet passages on'the opposite end of said casing, valve elements atopposite ends Vofsaidv stator, said stator and said valveelementsdefining a-chamber -in- -Which the `rotor revolves, a. passage in one.0f-said valve elements communicating with one ,end of said ,chamber andthe uid inlet passage upon rotary movement of the stator to its limit inone direction and communicating im'ththe same rend of the chamber andthefluid outlet ypassage uponv rotary movement of the stator to its limitin the opposite direction, a secondA passage -in saidI valve .elementvcommunicating with the opposite endofsaid chamber and the'uid outlet insaid casingpassageupon rotary movement of the stator to its limit in onedirection and communicating with said opposite end of the chamber. andlthefiiuid inlet vpassage in the casing passage upon rotary movement`Ofthe stator to its lim'it inY :the opposite direction, the valveelement adjacent thedrive shaftend of the casing being in thenature ofan axiallgr ex- 8 tended bearing sleeve `which projects through the endof the casing to provide means' forrotating' the 4stator with respect tothe casing, said drive shaft being journalled within said bearinglsleeve, a removable stem secured to said :bearing sleeve for rotationtherewith, an extension shaft yjournalled'i'n said stem for cooperationwith said drive-shaft, and a tool mounted on the exteme `end of saidextension shaft for rotation therewith.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 912,061 Beckman Feb. 9, 19091,212,967 Light et al Jan; 16,1917 1,971,283 Stimson Aug. 21,v 19342,283,314 Ckola May 19, 1942 2,406,959 Millard Sept. 3, A1946 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 553,757 France May 30, 1923

